xp_logs | Scott and Forge, Thursday, lunch

Thursday around lunchtime, Forge comes to Scott with a rather brash request.

This shouldn't be hard. It's simple. Not like you're asking him to sign over his firstborn or anything. You'll bring it right back...

Forge kept running through logical arguments in his head, trying to
calm himself. What's the worst he can do? Say no?

Or blast me into atoms with his nuclear eye lasers. He could do that.

Walking down the third floor hallway, Forge noticed Mr. Summer's
study, the door ajar. Maybe he's not in, maybe he's... sitting
right at his desk and probably looking right at me. The glasses
make it hard to tell.

Steeling himself, Forge stepped forward, knocking on the door and
peeking his face through. "Mr. Summers? I, uh, I need a favor."

Scott blinked at Forge. The boy looked... rather nervous. Why was he
nervous? "Come in. You didn't create another hurricane, did you?" he
asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because if you created another hurricane
and want me to intercede for you with the Professor, no. We're
supposed to learn from our mistakes."

That made Forge crack a smile. "No, no hurricanes. Miss Munroe told me in no uncertain terms that I shouldn't be poaching on her turf there. No, this is... um... I need to borrow your car."

Scott stared at him for a full ten seconds. "You need to borrow my
car. My car specifically," he said with growing suspicion.
"Why? There isn't some sort of bet going on here, is there?" Because
there was just enough chutzpah in the request to make him think there had to be something.

"No, it's that..." Forge paused, then decided to just spill the beans. "It's the nicest one in the garage. Well, there's the Shelby, but it's Jamie's, and I don't want to bring Jamie into this. I need something nice, because you know, good impressions and all. Good first impressions - well, not really, first for me but not for everyone, but..." He stopped, realizing he'd declined into babbling again.

Taking a deep breath, he wrung his hands and looked over the rims of
his glasses at Scott.

"Mr. Kylun and I are taking Catseye to meet her family. Her, y'know,
parents and stuff."

Okay. So not what he had expected.

"You'll be driving?" Scott asked after a moment, almost
conversationally. More families, part of him was reflecting, a bit
stunned. What was it with people and finding lost families around
here? Bizarre. Truly bizarre. At least if they were driving out to
meet Catseye's family that meant that she probably wasn't related to
anyone here.

"Turns out they only live about an hour's drive. And that's an hour
obeying all the speed limits and rules of the road which of course I
would do because I know how important it is to respect the laws of the state and county as well as safety for myself, my passengers, and other motorists." Forge tried to keep a nervous smile off his face. "I just... I don't know how to really go about this, she wants to meet them. And Mr. Kylun agreed to go because it's important to have an adult there, I thought, and she trusts him."

He would mention this to Charles, Scott reflected, just so that
Charles could have a quick word or two with Kylun, and possibly with
Catseye herself. Just because family reunions tendy to be chancy
things. "If I were to okay you borrowing my car," Scott said dryly,
"there would of course be a certain amount of 'bring her back in the
condition you took her out in or else' involved. But you must have
been aware of that already."

Forge managed to look simultaneously indignant and offended at the
insinuation. "Full tank of gas, not a scratch on her, no food in the
car and no monkey business on the upholstery." He refrained from
making the comment as to whether or not the 'no monkey business'
caveat applied to Dr. Grey, but quashed it.

Scott gave it perhaps five seconds' more thought. "All right," he
finally said quietly, smiling at Forge. "Obey all speed limits and
relevant traffic laws, etcetera, and good luck with the family
reunion. I'm... pretty fond of a certain purple feline myself," Scott said, thinking about being herded back into the house in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, "and I really do hope it goes well."

"It should," Forge said. "If I've learned one thing around here, it's realizing that family always seems to want to be back together. Me and my dad, Mr. Dayspring and his dad - even you and your grandparents from what I hear. Of course it'll go well." He gave a wide smile as he moved back towards the door. "How could it not? And hey, thanks, Mr. S. I really do appreciate it."

Scott nodded. "And hey," he said dryly as Forge reached the door.
"Bring her back in one piece and I'm much more likely to argue for you being allowed to spend some quality time with the big black plane downstairs. There's some extra incentive for you."